Hydroplane-boat.



G. H. CURTISS.

HYDROPLANE BOAT.

" APPUCATION FILED JAN. 21. 19x5.

1,246,014. Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

. 2SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. H. CURTI SS.

HYDBOPLANE BOAT. 7 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. I915.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 GLENN HGVQTI.

UNITED STATES PATENT oration;

GLENN H. CURTISS, OF HAMMONDSPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE CURTISSMOTOR 00., OF HAMMONDSPORT, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HYDROPLANEeBOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 6, 1917.

Application filed January 21, 1915. Serial No. 3,510.

1 '0 all whom 2'15 may concern:

Be it known that I, GLENN H. QrIR'rIss, a citizen of the United States,residing at tured out upon the air or upon the water only in calmweather but as the aeroplane has been perfected an its structure hasbeen made more staunch and durable, aviators also have perfected theirskill to an extent which enables them to manipulate their craft duringall ordinary Weather conditions. I nder such conditions it veryfrequently happens that the water upon which it is desired to alight isquite rough. This is especially so on the ocean and in the surf even onreasonably good days. Moreover, the very speedy performance of both theaeroplane and hydro-aeroplane or flying boat has created a demand forhigh speed seaivorthy boats to serve as'tenders, but the hydroplaniugspeed boat as heretofore constructed has not fully met the requirements.In ordinary weather they were reasonably eflicient. but under adverseweather conditions it has not been practicable to use them freely. Therehave been few such speed boats having a flotation capacity suilicient tocarry substantial load when standing stlll and the same load at extremehigh speed. It

has been the object of my invention to produce a boat which will meetthese requirements. f

I..have departed somewhat widely from previously accepted designs; Theboat of my invention instead of being long and narrow and of shallowdepth is of considerable beam in proportion to'its length. It hassufficient depth of flotation body to give large displacement andcarrying capacity.

The bottom of the boat is stepped, but the stepped surfaces do notcooperate as hydroplane surfaces. The bottom of the front portion of theboat or the front of the step is a hydroplaning surface, but the bottomof the rearmost portion is not so constituted,

and when the boat is planing it may and, usually does occupy a positionelevated from the surface of the water. One or more auxiliaryhydroplaning surfaces separated from and operating independently of thefront hydroplaning surfaces are mounted on, the hinder portion ofthebody and support it when in action.

According to my invention I provide three hydroplaning surfaces (therebygiving the boat a three point support) and arrange these surfaces in anisosceles triangular relation with the base surfaces rearmost. The frontsurface is the front portion of the stepped bottom, and is of salientcross section with the apex of the angle pointing downwardly. Thelongitudinal elements of this surface are downwardly and rearwardlyinclined at substantially the same angle from one side of the boat; tothe other, the inclination at the marginal portions being therefore thesame as the inclination at the keel portions. At the chines of the boatare provided laterally and downwardly extending bilge fins forminginverted salient angles with the main body of the bottom andconstituting auxiliary hydroplaning surfaces. These bilge fins may be apart of the bottom itself, (the sides of the boat being built up fromtheir extremities), or may be mere fins as stated (the sides of the boatbeing built up from the apexes of the angles which they make with themain body of the-bottom). The front of the bottom is upwardly inclinedand is of a horizontal salient section of substantially the full widthof the boat, although the boat may be given a cut- The base or rearsurfaces are longitudinally separated from the front surfacessuflioiently to eliminate all step action and give them an independenthydroplanin function. Preferably they are plane though they may. likethe front surfaces be given a slight salient angle) and are of ayielding nature, the yield being secured eitheras an inherentflexibility or through the use of suitable resistant springs associatedwith the mounting. thereof.

In the bottom of the front portion of the boat is located a motor of theV-type pro vided with a propeller shaft which pro ects through the rearWall of the step of the flo tation body and beneath the rear of the bodyto a considerable depth at the stern of the boat. lit lies intermediatethe two base hydroplaning surfaces of the stern. At the stern there islocated the operators seat.

The flexibility of the stern or base hydroplaning surface gives aneasy-riding quality to the stern of the boat, while the rigidconstruction of the front surface with the salient cross-sectionsefiectually breaks all severe impacts and prevents them from reachingthe stern of the boat. The bilge Fig. 3 1s a cross section on line 33 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4: is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the boat;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the front portion of a modified form;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a still further modification Fig. 7 is asection on line aa of Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the same;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the bow of the modification of Figs. 7and 8.

The various parts of the boat of my invention are characterized andrelated as follows, identification being by means of reference numeralsapplied to drawings.

(10). The flotation body of the boat. This boat as will be seen is ofconsiderable width or beam whereby the boat when at rest is very stable.Moreover the boat is of considerable depth whereby its displacement isgreat and it will support in a seaworthy manner considerable load. Inthe form shown in Fig. 1, the bow is blunt and of substantially the fullwidth of the boat. In the forms shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the bow is acutting bow and is made reasonably sharp as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

(11). The rear wall ofthe step formed in the bottom of the flotationbody 10.- -This may be but one of a plurality of steps, but the bottomsurfaces of the steps have no cooperative relation with each other, andthe height of the wall is made very considerable.

(12). The front bottom surfa0e.This surface is of salient section asshown in Figs. 3 and 4, the apex of the salient angle being centrallylocated and pointing downwardly, thereby constituting the ortion of thebottom of greatest depth. T e longitudinal elehea er t ments of thisfront bottom surface 12 are inclined downwardly and rearwardly from thebow aft at substantially the same angle, the longitudinal inclination ofthe marginal and keel portions of the bottom therefore beingsubstantially the same. The front portion of the bottom is upwardlyinclined to form the blunt prow, the inclination being by a curved pathand the curve being substantially the same at the margins as at thestem, and the salient horizontal front section shown in Fig.- 2 beingsubstantially the same as that of the bottom surface. angle of thiscross section may be varied at will, and as shown in the boat of thecutting bows of Figs. 7 and 8, may be gradually increasing from the bowto the stern of the surface 12. In neither case does the upwardlyinclined bow portion constitute a hydroplaning surface, but is merely awater breaking surface, and therefore in the form of Figs. 7 and 8 thesalient angle of the section of the bottom-most hydroplaning surface maybe made uniform irrespective of that of the upwardly curved bow portion.(13). The bilge fins.These fins are laterally and downwardly inclinedfrom the .marginal portions of the surface 12, forming inverted salientangles therewith, and extending to a depth less than the depth of theapex of surface 12. llhey really c'onsti-- tute auxiliary hydroplaningsurfaces. They may be formed either as fins as shown in the modificationof Fig. 1 or as a part of the flotation body as shown in Fig. 6, theside wall being in the one case built up from the marginal edge ofsurface 12 and the other from the marginal edge of the fin 13. In eithercase the bottom cross section is a zigzag the angles of which aresalient and have sides of decreasing depth from the center outwardly. Inboth forms these fins are curved upwardly at the chines part way atleast up the prow of the boat.

(1e, 14). The stem hydropzam'ng' surfaces-These surfaces are flexible,being formed of wooden plank or metal connected fixedly with the body ofthe boat at their front ends and fulcrumed on a suitable supportintermediate their front and rear ends whereby they flex freely bothbetween their points of support and in the rear of the same. They arearranged with respect to the front surface 12 in an isosceles triangularrelation as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. They are spacedsufliciently from the front surface to eliminate cofiperative action.Furthermore as shown in the form of Fig. 8 they may be supported so thattheir paths of travel are laterally displaced from the path of travel ofthe front surface 12. Their free ends project rear- 1Zvardly somedistance from the stern of the oat.

(15). The driving m0tor.This motor is The at the extreme stern of thebodytlO and is substantially the full width of the-stern.

(17). The steering rudder, which'may be of elm approved type and mountedin any approved manner.1t is operated by a steering wheel or controllever located in frontof the operators seat.

The operation of the boat is as follows:

. Any load other than the operator and passengers is placed in the bodyof the boat between the driving motor 15 and the operators seat 16.According to the number of passengers carried more or less of the loadmay bestowed adjacent to the operators seat so as to balance effectivelythe weight of the motor in the front part of the boat,

though precise disposition of load is immaterial. 'Owing to the breadthof the frame of the boat up-setting at a standstill 1s practicallyimpossible, and passengers may move around with entire freedom. There 1sample room for movement over the entire boat.

Under way the action of the upwardly inclined prow and the hydroplaningsurfaces 12, 13 and 14 decrease the draft of thebody 10 as the speed isincreased. In a few seconds and considerably before maximum speed isreached the body 10 is elevated to 1 such a position that it issupported entirely by the hydroplaning action of surfaces 12, 13, and14, the under surface of the rear portion of the boat at and aft of thestep 11 being above the surface of the water. Impact with waves of largesize is taken by the V-- shaped bow' and bottom and the wave broken.Wash from such broken waves is prevented from reaching the operator orpassengers by the upwardly inclined portions of the bilge fins 13.Furthermore these bilge fins by their inclination confine the waterbeneath the bottom of the boat, and with the broken water of impactentrain reasonable quantities of air thereby materially increasing thelift of the hydroplaning surfaces 12 and decreasing their surfaceresistance. to such a point as to support the front portion of .the boatentirely upon the rear portion of the surface 12, the bilge finsadjacent to step 11 act almost wholly in the important capacity of washdeflectors and under extreme speed when the wash is high and of greatforce, as this wash strikes the bilge As the speed increases fins and isthrown downwardly, outwardly, and rearwardly, thereby not only is thewash kept out of the boat, but the shock of impact is cushioned and thelift of the forward surface enhanced.- When on the side of a' wave thesefins effectually prevent skidding, acting then as planing surfaces. Therear surfaces the while support the stern of the boat clear or nearlyclear of the water and by reason of the efficient action of the frontsurface they are subjected to comparatively little shock. Such shock asdoes come to them, especially when their paths of movement are as shownin Fig. 5, is yielded to by them in such a manner as to be absorbedbefore it reaches the body of the boat. Thus operators and passengersriding at the stern of the boat-find riding most easy and comfortable.The boat is most easily steered, requires but a small surface forsteering, and does not pitch or porpoise under any conditions. Its speedrange is extremely flexible, ranging from very low flotation speeds to.extremely high hydroplaning speeds.

In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the rear surfaces 14 are displacedfrom the sides of the boat a distance suflicient to remove them entirelyfrom the'path of travel or aspect of the front surfaces 12. This givesincreased stability to the boat. In this form of boat also it will benoted from Fig. 9 that the angle of the fins 13 with surfaces 12 likethe salient angle of surfaces 12 increases gradually from front to rear.

' The propeller shaft 19 is stream lined, as shown in Fig. 7 and in Fig.7 by the provision of a fixed streamline body 18 of the section of Fig.7'" in the vertical plane of the shaft.

The general direction of rise of the water from the step 11 is thedirection of the line A streamline body 18 may beprovided in front ofthe circular shaft support and extend all the way to step 11 if sodesired, this amounting to a mere extension of the streamline body 18shown. Obviously the streamline form of the body may be convenientlyvaried.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A hydroplane boat comprising a main flotation bodyhaving a portion of its unplaning form, together with a freely'flexiblehydroplaning surface longitudinally removed from it.

2. A hydroplane boat, the bottom surfaces of which form a salientv angleWith'each thereof, and bilge fins of substantially the 1 derneathsurface constructed in rigid hydro- :other with its apex locatedcentrally of the and independently of each other, the foremost one ofsaid surfaces having a salient cross section with the apex pointingdownwardly and provided with bilge fins at the lateral marginal portionsthereof making substantially inverted salient angles with the saidmarginal portions.

5. A hydroplane boat comprising three hydroplaning surfaces arranged inan isosceles triangular relation, the two base surfaces being hindmost,and the front surface having a salient cross section.

6. A hydroplane boat comprising three hydroplaning surfaces arranged inan isosceles triangular relation, the base surfaces being the'hindmostof the set and approximately plane, while the front surface has asalient cross section.

7. A hydroplaning boat having a flotation body the bottom of which isstepped, a driving motor mounted in said forward portion of the boat andhaving a propeller shaft projecting rearwardly through said step and aftbeneath the rear portion of said body, the said front portion havingahydroplaning bottom of a salient cross section the angle of whichpoints downwardly, and the rear portion being provided with hydroplaningsurfaces operating independently of said front hydroplaning surfaces.

8. A hydroplaning boat having a flotation body, the bottom of which isstepped, the bottom of the front portion thereof being V-shaped with theapex pointing downwardly, a driving motor mounted on the frontportion inthe apex of said V bottom and having a drive shaft projecting rearwardlyfrom said step below the bottom of the after portion of the body, and apair of laterally separated hydroplaning surfaces connected with saidafter portion of the boat. and lying oneon either side of said driveshaft.

9. A hydroplaning boat having a hydroplaning surface the bow portion ofwhich is of substantially the same width as the body portion thereof, isfrom the bottom upwardly inclined, and has a salient cross section in ahorizontal plane pointing forwardly, and the extreme bottom of whichaaaepia has a-salient vertical cross section pointing downwardly.

10. A hydroplaning) boat having a hydroplaning surface the I is ofsubstantially the same width as the body portion thereof, is from thebottom upwardly inclined, and has a salient cross section in ahorizontal plane pointing forwardly, the bottommost portion of the boathaving a salient vertical cross section pointing downwardly, andfinsprojecting laterally from the bottommost surface on either side of thekeel thereof and downwardly but to a depth less than the keel thereof.

11. A hydroplane boat, comprising a main body and a plurality ofhydroplaning surfaces connected thereto in longitudinal rela tion, theforemost of said surface being of salient cross section, and fixed, andthe hinder of said surface being yielding.

12. A hydroplane boat comprising a main body and a plurality oflongitudinally arranged hydroplaning surfaces connected therewith, theforemost of which is of salient cross section, and fixed and the hinderof which is a plane surface yieldingly connected with the body of theboat.

,13. A hydroplaning boat comprising a plurality of longitudinally spacedhydroplaning surfaces the foremost of which is of salient cross sectionand rigidly mounted and the hinder of which is flexible.

14. A hydroplaning boat comprising three hydroplaning surfaces arrangedin isosceles triangular relation, the base surfaces being the rearmostand yielding and the front surface having a salient cross section.

15. A hydroplaning boat comprising by droplaning surfaces arranged inlongitudinal relation, the foremost of said surfaces being rigid andhaving a salient cross section, the hinder of said surfaces beingadapted to yield in response to impact, a driving motor supported abovethe front one of said surfaces and an operators seat located above thehinder of said surfaces.

body having its forward underneath portion constructed in rigidhydroplaning form, and its underneath portion aft of said rigidhydroplaning surface constructed to provide a freely flexiblehydroplaning surface 17. A hydroplane boat having longitudinally spacedhydroplaning surfaces, the foremost surface bein fixed and the rearmostsurface freely flexible with respect to said flotation body to cushionthe hydroplaning impacts.

18. A hydroplane boat including a plu rality of longitudinally spacedhydroplaning surfaces, the hinder of which is fiem'ble with respect to afulcrum point located intermediate the ends of said hinder hydroplaningsurface.

ow portion of which I 16. A hydroplane boat comprising a main.

19. A hydroplane boat having a flotation body, the bottom of which isstepped and provided with a forward hydroplaning surface, and a freelyflexible means secured to and extending beyond the rear end of saidflotation body to reclude contact of the rear bottom portion of saidbody with the Water While hydroplaning.

20. A hydroplaning boat having a flotation body, a driving motor mountedin the forward portion of said body and having a propeller shaftprojecting rearwardly aft, beneath therear portion of said body, thesaid front portion having a relatively fixed i hydroplaning bottom, andthe rear portion being provided with yielding hydroplaning surfacesoperating independently of said hydroplaning bottom.

the after portion of said body and a pair of laterally separatedhydroplaning surfaces connecting with said after portion of the boat andlying one on either side ofvsaid drive shaft to extend rearwardly beyondthe stern end of said body.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GLENN H. CURTWS.

lVitnesses:

LYMAN J. SEELY, JANE O. MOORE.

the bottom of which is stepped, a

